Drinking fountain



Dec. 6, 1955 v. MATEREsE ETAL 2,725,725

DRINKING FOUNTAIN Filed oct. 21, 1952 2 sneet's sneet 1 INVENTORS. VINCENT MATERESE 8| By RUSSELL L.T ANGEMAN ATTORNEYS Dec. 6, 1955 v, MATERESE ETAL DRINKING FOUNTAIN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 2l, 1952 FIG-6 INVENTORS.

18 VINCENT MATERESE S 16 By RUSSELL L.TANSEMAN 47( ATTORNEYS 40 37 39 4o zo United States Patent() DRINKING FOUNTAIN Vincent Materese and Russell L. Tangeman, Dayton, Ohio, assignors to Mink-Dayton, Inc., a corporation of Ohio Application October 21, 1952, Serial No. 315,934

6 Claims. (Cl. 62-43) This invention relates to drinking fountains and more particularly to a drinking fountain using ice for cooling and adapted to fit into a limited space.

In many cases the space available for a drinking fountain is limited. This is the case particularly with vehicles such as railroad locomotives, cabooses, passenger, baggage or mail cars, or with boats such as tugs and trawlers or pleasure craft. Under such circumstances facilities for mechanical refrigeration by electricity or gas ordinarily are not available, or would be hazardous or otherwise objectionable by reason of possible sparking or the necessity for a flame.

Where, as in a vehicle, space for obtaining access to the fountain is also limited and the vehicle is subject to lurching, rolling or similar motion, extending parts are undesirable so as to avoid possible injury to anyone ac cidentally thrown into contact with them as well as to avoid damage to the parts themselves.

The device of the invention provides a drinking water fountain using ice as a coolant which will fit into un* usually small space and which by reason of its eiiciency, small size and light weight is particularly well adapted for use on moving vehicles such as those referred to. A device in accordance with the invention for use in a Diesel locomotive, for example, may be contained within a horizontal rectangle measuring only 131/2 inches in depth and 91/2 inches in width, and less than three feet high. Such a cooler will nevertheless furnish an ample supply of cool drinking water with only a single filling of ice per day.

The water supply may be contained in a tank built into the cabinet, a bottle in which spring water is ordinarily delivered, or a glass jug, or may be supplied through a direct connection with an external source of water. Whatever source of supply is used, the fountain is safe and satisfactory to use because all of its parts are contained within the walls of the cabinet, without extending parts to catch on anyone moving by or to be damaged by being struck. The fountain is filled with ice through an aperture in its front wall simply by lifting out through the aperture a simple closure which serves both as a cover for the ice compartment and as a drain for waste water and is smooth and flat without extending handles or knobs to catch on the users clothing.

The cooler at the same time is efficient in operation and durable in use, and provides a drinking water cooler particularly well adapted to be carried by vehicles such as those referred to.

It is accordingly a principal object of the invention to provide a drinking fountain adapted to be cooled by ice and capable of use on Diesel locomotives and in other restricted areas of severely limited space.

It is also an object of the invention to provide such a drinking fountain which is pleasing in appearance, which is strong and durable in use, and which may be manufactured economically.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from responding faces of channel 17.

ICC

the following description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

In the drawings- Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a water cooler embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the water cooler on a larger scale viewed from a different angle than Fig. 1, partly broken away to show the internal construction;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on a larger scale of the alcove, showing the closure containing the drip pan partly removed;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the center of the cooler viewed from the side with the water supply container shown in dotted lines; and

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of another construction in which the water supply is contained within the cabinet, broken away to show the internal construction.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, Figs. 1-5 show a drinking fountain embodying the invention including a generally rectangular upright cabinet or casing 10 having side panels 11, relatively narrow front panel 12, rear panel 13, and top 14. The upright panels may conveniently be stamped from sheet metal, and the bottom edges thereof bent to form flanges 16 provided with holes for fastening the cabinet at the place it is to stand. Vertical frame members integral with front and rear panels 12 and 13 are provided by bending the panels back upon themselves as shown in Fig. 3 to provide a U-shaped channel 17 with a lip 13 extending inwardly from the inner edge. The side edges of panels 11 may also be bent upon themselves to provide a flange 19 adapted to be received against lip 18 for stifening the panels and spacing them with their outer faces ilush with the cor- The front and rear panels are fastened together by braces or angle strips Ztl (Fig. 5) fastened to lip 18 by spot welding, as shown in the drawings at 21, and the side panels may then be fastened in place by screws 22 received in apertures provided for such purpose in lip 18.

Top 1.4 may similarly be formed of sheet metal, with its edges `bent to form a peripheral skirt for fastening it to the front and rear wall panels by screws 23. The side panels are preferably removable as shown to permit access to the interior of the cabinet both for facility in assembling the fountain, and to allow for withdrawal and replacement of the ice compartment or the connecting piping for repair, cleaning, or other reason.

The source of water shownin the embodiment of Figs. 1-5 is a gallon jug or bottle 25' inverted through an annular opening 26 provided for such purpose in top 14 into a reservoir 27. The reservoir, which is preferably bowl-shaped, may be fastened to the lower face of top 14 by welding or bolting and may be braced by brackets extending from upper strip 20. In this form an annular gasket 30 is provided to cushion container 25 against shocks and to prevent escape of water from reservoir 27 due to swaying or jolting movement of the vehicle, displacement of the container being prevented by retaining ring 31. If this ring is split and hinged as shown in the drawing it provides for ready removal and replacement of the jug, and has the added advantage that it may ber 20 both to relieve it Ifrom undue vibration and roadshocks from movement of the vehicle and to afford room for attaching drain pipes in installation. Compartment 35 is enclosed except for apertures 41 for passage of the necessary piping therethrough and an access opening 43 provided in the front portion of the top for supplying ice to the ice compartment and affording access to its interior. As will be apparent this compartment isa selfcontained unit which may be completely assembled before being tted into the cabinet, and may also be removed frorn the cabinet by merely removing one of the side panels and disconnecting the piping.

Drinking water is carried from reservoir 27 to faucet 44 by piping 45 extending rearwardly and downwardly from the lower portion of reservoir 27 into ice compartment 35, in which it is formed into a series of cooling coils 46 around the outer edges of the compartment, thence upwardly and out of compartment 35 to connect with faucet 44 at a point rearward of access opening 43 and lower than the bottom of reservoir 27. The faucet should preferably be of the push-button type so that drinking water may be` obtained therefrom in a paper cup or other container with one hand only, and the piping at the delivery end should be insulated so that water standing therein will immediately be cold.

Ice of a size to be introduced into the chamber through opening 43 will be in pieces small enough to be received within coils 46 and will lie in close contact with them, and the cool water resulting from its melting is retained in the cabinet where it is circulated around and between the coils by motion of the vehicle. The coils may be held in properly spaced position by bracing members 48 (Fig. 5) which tend also toprotect the coils from damage by the ice, and the height of the cooling water is maintained at the desired level to cover the coils by overow Siphon 49 (Fig. 2) which permits overow water to pass to the exterior through pipe 50. A drain for draining the cooling water out of the ice compartment is provided by piping 51, and a similar drain 53 for the drinking water piping is also provided. The drains are controlled respectively by valves 52 and 54 which provide for draining the systems when not in use to avoid damage from freezing, and also for sterilizing the drinking water system by passing live steam through it.

The cooler is so arranged that all portions thereof t within the horizontal dimensions of the upright panels. An alcove 55 is accordingly provided extending inwardly from the upper portion of front panel 21 through an aperture 56 provided therein for such purpose overlying accessk opening 43 in the ice-chamber, and enclosing faucet 44. The alcove is enclosed at top, each side, and rear by walls 57, 58 and 59, respectively, as shown, their lower edges extending downwardly into access opening 43 into the ice chamber and titting closely therein. The upper portion of rear wall 59 is preferably positioned somewhat forward of the lower portion for supporting faucet 44 while affording room for easily inserting a paper cup or other drinking receptacle held in the hand below the faucet while pressing the faucet open with the same hand. Top Wall 57 may be integral with rear wall 59, a shown, and side walls 58 should be shaped so as to conform to the configuration of rear wall 59 and their top and rear edges bent to provide anges 60 itting closely against the rear and top walls to which they are spot welded.

The lower edges of side walls 58 extend downwardly into access opening 43'their full length, while the corresponding lower edge of rear wall 59 is bent inwardly to provide a horizontal flange 62 extending transversely along the rear portion of opening 43 approximately level with the top of the inside of ice chamber 35, for mounting a cover or closing member in the bottom of said alcove. A. corresponding ange 63 along the front edge of such opening at Vthe sameY level is provided by an elongated bracket member 64, vwhich is shown as overlying a portion of the upper edge of front walls 36 of the ice compartment and includes a depending lip 65 at its inner end extending into the Vcompartment to provide a tight seal therewith and a ledge 66 at its outer end for spacing the bracket member from front panel 12 (Fig. 4).

The forward edges of the alcove walls are so positioned as to register with the edges of aperture 56 in panel 12, to which the wally members may be fastened by facing pieces 67 at the top and sides, and 68 at the bottom.

Facing pieces 67 arc L-shaped in cross-section, and with the alcove walls fitted in position inwardly from aperture 56 may be fastened thereto by means of bolts or screws 70 itting into bores provided in the wall members to receive them. Brackets 71 (Fig. 5) are welded to the outer face of each side Wall 58 near its forward edge, with their free portions extending transversely outward and being provided with apertures for receiving screws 75, brackets 71 being so placed with respect to the forward edge of the walls that with the walls loosely held in position by facing pieces 67 they may be secured firmly in place by turning screws 75 outwardly to press against the inner face of panel 12 and thus force the panels and attached facing pieces in a direction rearward of the cooler. Facing piece 68, which is U-shaped in crosssection, may then be pressed into position over the lower edge of aperture 56 and the vertical portion of bracket member 64, and secured in place by screws 76, as shown.

In assembly, all points at which tubing or piping pass through apertures 41 in the walls of ice compartment 35 are irmly sealed, the ice compartment is positioned within the cabinet on channels 40, and the alcove members fitted as described. Necessary access inside the ice compartment for connecting the faucet and upper portion of the piping is provided by access opening 43. In iitting the cabinet top 14 and reservoir, the drinking water tubing must be properly received in the exible fitting at the lower portionof reservoir 27 Access opening 43 is normally closed by a cover or closure 81, which may be formed by sheet metal with its edges bent downwardly to form a depending ange 82 around the four sides to lend rigidity. Its central portion should be depressed or dished to form drain plate 83 and provided with an aperture 84 at the bottom of the drain plate for receiving any Waste drinking water and directing it into the ice compartment where it will drain out along with the water from the melting ice through siphon 49. Cover 81 may if desired be provided also with a continuous beading 8S around the lower edge of flange 82 in order further to strengthen it and to give it a pleasing appearance. The cover is supported in place by ledges 62 and 63, no support being necessary at the sides.

It will be noted that aperture 84 is in the form of a l single hole in cover 81 rather than a plurality of smaller openings. Thus in addition to providing for passage of water into the ice compartment it comprises a finger hole for removing the cover to gain access to the ice compartment, and leaves the interior of the alcove smooth and streamlined without any undesirable projecting knob or handle.

Access to the ice compartment is simple and easy, providing for adding the ice by dropping it through the opening thus provided at a convenient height, without necessity for removing any parts other than cover 81. There are no hinged pieces which might tend to fall down during iilling by reason of jolting or other motion of the vehicle, and access for lling the cooler with ice is through the same opening through which drinking water is obtained, and hence is conveniently located for access irrespective of the place in the vehicle at which the cooler is placed.

Fig. 6 shows another embodiment of the invention in which the water supply is furnished from a water supply tank wholly contained within the wall of the cabinet. In this form the exterior water container with its supports and reservoir are dispensed with, and piping 45 is connected through connection 91 directly with the tank, which is supported within the cabinet on brackets 92 supported on the vertical frame members provided by front and rear panel 93. With the tank supported in this manner, side panels 94 are freely removable. Drinking water may be supplied to the tank through an aperture in the top 95 of the tank closed by a cap 96, access to which is afforded through a hinged cover 97 in top 98 of the cabinet. Cap 96 may have a screened opening, and preferably is provided also with a threaded fixture into which a steam line may be connected for periodically sterilizing the drinking Water system.

' The remaining portions of the drinking fountain in this embodiment are substantially the same as in the embodiment of Figs. l-5 and are identified in the drawing by like reference numerals. In this form it is convenient to assemble the cabinet including the alcove with the faucet supported therein, leaving one of the removable sides open, and to assemble the water supply tank, ice compartment and connecting piping as a separate subassembly, which may then be inserted into the cabinet through the open side and fastened and connected in place, and the panel then fitted into the open side.

All parts with which the drinking water comes in contact, such as the reservoir or Water tank, the alcove walls and facing pieces and the closure including its drip pan or drain plate, in addition to the inside of the ice compartment, are preferably formed from stainless steel to insure cleanliness, long life and pleasing appearance with minimum care. The drinking water piping is preferably formed of copper with brass ttings and thus all parts of the cooler in contact with water are substantially unaffected by it, thereby prolonging the useful life of the cooler.

As illustrative of the results obtainable, a drinking water cooler in accordance with the invention measuring only 91/2 inches in transverse width of the cabinet, 131/2 inches deep, and 33 inches high has proved ample to provide more than ve gallons of drinking water at 40- 50 F. with a single icing over a 24 hour period, in an average outside temperature surrounding the cabinet of 80 F. This particular embodiment, weighing only some 60 pounds, has an ice compartment holding 20-25 pounds of ice which will insure a constant supply of cool water for 24 hours in an ambient temperature of some 100 F.

It will be understood that while the invention is described and illustrated herein in connection with an embodiment adapted for use in a diesel locomotive in which the available space was rectangular in horizontal dimensions and accessible from the front and one side, and it was convenient to form both the cabinet and alcove in substantially rectangular horizontal cross-section, the invention would be equally useful in other circumstances in which for economy in materials or by reason of the particular location it might be desired to make either of them in different shape. It should be understood also that a compartment for food or drinks could, if desired, be iittted into the cabinet.

While the forms of apparatus herein described constitute preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise forms of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a drinking fountain having means for receiving a supply of water, a casing, means in said casing forming a chamber for receiving ice for cooling, said ice chamber having an access opening in the upper wall thereof for supplying ice thereto, a cooling coil in said chamber connected to said water supply, said casing having means forming an alcove in one face thereof above said chamber, a faucet located in said alcove for dispensing said drinking water, a drain plate normally closing the lower part of said alcove, and means for mounting said drain plate in said alcove for ready removal providing for said access to said ice chamber.

2. In a drinking fountain having means for receiving a supply of water, a casing having a front portion, means in said casing forming a laterally closed chamber for receiving ice for cooling, said chamber having a single access opening in a portion of the upper wall thereof for supplying ice thereto, a cooling coil in said chamber connected to said water supply, an alcove in said front portion overlying said access opening, a faucet connected to said cooling coil and located in said alcove for dispensing said drinking water, a drain plate normally closing the lower part of said alcove, and means for mounting said drain plate in said alcove for ready removal providing for access to said ice chamber.

3. In a water cooler having means for receiving a supply of water, means for dispensing said water, an ice chamber including an access opening in the upper portion thereof, and a pipe passing through said ice chamber providing for passage of Water therethrough from said water receiving means to said water dispensing means, the combination comprising a cabinet enclosing said ice chamber having upright walls and end portions and adapted to t into a small space, an inwardly extending portion in said upright walls defining an alcove in said cabinet above said ice chamber, removable means for closing the bottom of said alcove when in place therein and providing access to said ice chamber through the bottom of said alcove when removed therefrom, said Water dispensing means being supported wholly within said alcove and said closing means being apertured for passage of waste water from said recess into said icechamber, and means for draining said ice chamber.

4. In a drinking fountain having means for receiving a supply of water, a faucet for dispensing said water, and Water piping including a cooling coil communicatively connecting said water supply means and said faucet, the combination comprising a cabinet having upright walls and closed ends, means in Said cabinet forming an ice-chamber therein surrounding said cooling coil for receiving ice for cooling said water as it passes from said water supply means to said faucet, means carried by said cabinet for supporting said faucet wholly within the horizontal dimensions of said cabinet, means including said faucet-supporting means defining an alcove disposed above said ice-chamber, a drain plate normally closing the lower portion of said alcove having an aper- Vture therein dimensioned to receive a finger for removing said drain plate from said alcove, and means removably supporting said drain plate defining an access opening to said ice chamber through the lower portion of said alcove for supplying ice to said chamber.

5. A self-contained drinking fountain for use in restricted space comprising, in combination, a cooling cabinet having a relatively small base, an ice-receiving chamber in said cabinet, a water supply receptacle supported at the upper portion of said cabinet, a water faucet for dispensing said water, piping connecting said water supply receptacle and said faucet including a cooling coil disposed in said ice-receiving chamber, said cabinet being provided with an alcove in a portion of the upright wall thereof above said ice-receiving chamber for containing said water faucet within the horizontal dimensions thereof, means defining an opening in the bottom of said alcove for introducing ice into said chamber, a closure including a drain plate for passage of waste water into said ice-receiving chamberV normally closing said opening, and means for supporting said closure for ready removal therefrom.

6. In a drinking fountain adapted to t into a small space and having water supply means and water dispensing means, the combination of a cabinet including means defining an inwardly extending alcove in one Wall thereof, a removable bottom wall in said alcove, means for supporting said Water dispensing means in saidv alcove Within'thev horizontal dimensions of said cabinet, a cool- 8 cabinet providing access to the interior thereof for assembly of said fountain and removal and replacement of said subassembly therein.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 868,439 Hyed Oct. 15, 1907 1,334,523 Cornish Mar. 23, 1920 1,866,466 Hassensall July 5, 1932 1,939,551 Hassendon a Dec. 12, 1933 2,347,905 Hart May 2, 1944 

